Tow Truck Driver Killed on I-90 While Helping Another

A 65 year-old Gillette tow truck driver was helping another driver when he became the victim of a fatal hit and run on Interstate 90 near Gillette Sunday morning. Larry G. Schofield was operating the controls of his rollback tow truck in the emergency lane, in the process of helping someone who collided with a deer, when he was struck by a pickup truck. Chris Foy has more.

At the time of the fatal collision, a Wyoming trooper was still on scene investigating the deer incident. Troopers say emergency lights were activated on the vehicles and that all involved were parked on the shoulder of the eastbound emergency lane. No vehicles were blocking either of the two eastbound lanes.

Sergeant Stephen Townsend with the Wyoming Highway Patrol says in a media release that Schofield was standing on the driver’s side of his tow truck working to recover the vehicle damaged by the deer collision. 28 year-old Justin L. Helsper was headed eastbound and failed to move over, striking Schofield with the right front of his vehicle. After the impact, Helsper refused to stop and continued on his way.

The trooper already on scene contacted another trooper who had seen Helsper’s vehicle approximately one and-a-half miles from the fatal crash scene. Troopers stopped Helsper’s vehicle and he was immediately taken into custody. Troopers investigating this fatal crash say they believe alcohol was a contributing factor and are awaiting toxicology results.

Helsper faces charges of aggravated vehicular homicide, a charge that carries a penalty of up to 20 years of imprisonment.